Aaron Mark Carpenter pleads guilty to aggravated drug possession

A Mackay drug courier turned trainee bank teller was busted with a huge haul of MDMA, marijuana, diamonds and almost $100,000 in cash. Find out why he will not be going back to jail.

A Mackay drug courier turned trainee bank teller has avoided going back to jail after he was busted with a huge stash of MDMA, marijuana, diamonds and almost $100,000 in cash.

Addict Aaron Mark Carpenter had agreed to run and stash drugs for his dealer after he couldn’t pay his bill, and he was caught.

In the wake of his arrest and spending 101 days in jail on remand, the 25 year old has turned his life around in a proactive push Supreme Court Justice Graeme Crow labelled “very impressive”.

Two years ago Carpenter was not working, he’d fallen out with this family and his drug addiction had “spiralled out of control”, Mackay Supreme Court heard.

Then 23, he racked up a drug debt.

Justice Crow said to pay it off “and have your own access to the drugs, you were offered an opportunity to assist in the evil business of drug trafficking or being a courier”.

“And you foolishly agreed to that course,” Justice Crow said.

On October 17, 2019 police stopped Carpenter as he was driving in the Brisbane area for a random breath test.

It was searched because the vehicle smelled strongly of air freshener and some deceitful behaviour of Carpenter’s.

Carpenter pleaded guilty to 11 charges including the aggravated possession of MDMA and marijuana.

The court heard officers found $94,020 in cash, 26.3kg of marijuana across 55 cryovac bags, and a gold watch and several diamonds worth about $10,000.

Carpenter also tested positive for meth and marijuana in his system.

He spent 16 days in custody and was released on bail on November 1 that year.

Less than three months later he was back in jail on remand after police executed a search warrant at his West Mackay home on January 15, 2020 when officers uncovered 70.299 grams of MDMA across capsules and power, a flick knife and used grinder.

This time he spent 85 days in custody on remand before he was granted bail after his mother paid a $50,000 surety.

Justice Crow accepted Carpenter was not going to reap any significant commercial benefit through his offending.

“Rather you were simply trying to pay off your debts,” he said.

The court heard Carpenter had been threatened since his arrest and was assaulted more than once while in jail on remand over the drug debt, which still has not been paid.

“There’s been a wrong assumption that you have been an informant in (a) police operation,” Justice Crow said.

Carpenter pleaded guilty to 11 charges including the aggravated possession of MDMA and marijuana.

The court heard in the past two years Carpenter had proactively taken steps for his rehabilitation including attending multiple counselling sessions – he had also returned 13 negative drug tests.

He had also complied with a curfew and reporting to police three times a week with no breaches.

“I accept that you’ve turned your back on drugs,” Justice Crow said.

The court heard he had completed a traineeship as a personal bank teller.

Justice Crow said his biggest concern was the fact Carpenter had offended while on bail “because you were given a chance and didn’t take it”.

“Ordinarily I’d wish to send you to prison for five or six years and have you serve two for this sort of behaviour,” he said.

Ultimately Justice Crow balanced the penalty by jailing Carpenter for five years suspended immediately, with the 101 days in custody declared as time already served.

Convictions were recorded.